Güney Mahallesi, 1140 sokak no. 71
35180 Konak/
Turkey
- Human rights
TIAFI, which stands for Team International Assistance for Integration, is an organisation working to directly benefit the most vulnerable members of the community, most typically women and children Syrian refugees who have fled from war. Often the people they support have disabilities and resulting injuries from war.
Their vital work touches the lives of those carrying trauma and the lasting effects of war, helping them ease their burdens and integrate successfully into society. TIAFI focuses on promoting social cohesion through special programming benefiting all members of the community.
TIAFI works to improve relationships between the Turkish and Syrians through their inclusive food program at their community center. Syrian women cook over 120 hot meals a day for local Turkish families who are struggling financially. TIAFI is also home to a playgroup where Turkish and Syrian children come to play and learn together in a safe environment.
TIAFI offers Turkish language practice to Syrian women and to Turkish women learning to overcome illiteracy. Women can also take part in career placement programs where they learn to produce high quality purses, backpacks, and t-shirts. Additionally, women make earrings and embroidered cloth, which they then sell to local merchants.
One of their most vital programs is the Information Point, which is staffed by Syrian refugees. Through this, they receive hundreds of calls and walk-ins every day, from both Syrians and the Turkish, for various reasons. Typically, queries answered are usually those asking for help with booking doctors’ appointments, securing national identity cards, enrolling children in school and finding employment. TIAFI partners with the Izmir Bar Association and together, they offer free legal support to Turks and Syrians alike. Currently, TIAFI is expanding these services to an innovative online, multimedia digital platform to help our clientele who struggle with illiteracy and the extra challenges to their safety this vulnerability causes.
TIAFI also has a team of consultant physical therapists who care for children that have suffered physical injury from war or disease. They fit children with new prosthetic legs so that they can move, walk and play. They involve parents and carers in this process, to allow them to continue this therapeutic work at home, giving children the best chance at recovery and rehabilitation.
TIAFI is also introducting a new nutrion program where Syrians and Turks together learn to prepare food that will heal their bodies and protect their families, participate in support groups and informational seminars. Through cooking and learning together, sharing and supporting, Syrian women and Turkish nationals are breaking downs walls of false ideas and prejudices to truly become neighbors.
TIAFI holds monthly seminars, often in conjuction with the local municipality, for its clientele.
All of TIAFI's activities are free of charge.
TIAFI is an on the ground, at your fingertips source of aid for thousands upon thousands of struggling refugees and vulnerable members for the host community. As such, we are the first receivers of vital information which can help inform policy making, migration management and steps towards mitigating the challenges of the changing face of nationality in Turkey.
We gather data every month and report to our local network, sharing with the municipality, regional stakeholders and the United Nation. This information can be a part of a larger conversation.
The Anna Lindh Foundation works to promote cross cultural understanding in order to make resilient societies that thrive and this is our goal, too. We have much to learn from the members of the ALF network and would be excited by the opportunity to help share information especially in the context of a westward moving migration scheme.